CSA Articles / Bird Talk / Dollars & Sense

Credit Card Fees Posted date : Sep 02, 2011. Credit Card Fees - Dear Bird Talk,Today, I spoke to a different person at Belk customer service regarding the bill with penalties which I received. This person agreed to.... Read more...Social Security Numbers and US Credit Cards Posted date : Jul 20, 2010. Social Security Numbers and US Credit Cards - Dear Bird Talk,Like many snowbirds, I often get asked for my social security number (SSN) for financial purposes, such as applying for cre.... Read more...Credit Card ZIP Code Tip Posted date : May 27, 2010. Credit Card ZIP Code Tip - Dear Bird Talk,Like many other people, I had the problem of not being able to use my credit card at the gas pumps in Florida because I did not.... Read more...Cross Border Car Purchasing Posted date : May 27, 2010. Cross Border Car Purchasing - Since I have a condo in Florida, I wonder if I can buy a car there and use it in Canada as my normal car, without having to make any transfer..... Read more...Form 8840 Posted date : May 27, 2010. Form 8840 - Dear Bird Talk,Re: Form 8840Is this form mandatory or a nice-to-do thing?F. HelminkTerrace Bay, ON ; .... Read more...Banking Fees Posted date : Sep 22, 2009. Banking Fees - Dear Bird Talk,I have run into banking fees regarding U.S.$ deposits from Canadian banks. Does anyone know of a bank in the Rio Grande Valley whic.... Read more...Using Credit Cards in the US Posted date : Jul 21, 2009. Using Credit Cards in the US - Dear Bird Talk,I just read in the spring magazine about the problems experienced in Nevada, Arizona and California when using a credit card at service.... Read more...Using Credit Cards in the US - more... Posted date : Jul 21, 2009. Using Credit Cards in the US - more... - Dear Bird Talk,Here is another suggestion. We obtained a Discover credit card in Florida using our winter address, which was completely .... Read more...Using Credit Cards in the US - and more... Posted date : Jul 21, 2009. Using Credit Cards in the US - and more... - Dear Bird Talk,I read the letter from R.D. Burrows in the spring issue of CSA News. We spend the winter in southern Texas and have experienced the sam.... Read more...Using Credit Cards in the US - and even more... Posted date : Jul 21, 2009. Using Credit Cards in the US - and even more... - Dear Bird Talk,We travel to Arizona in the winter and also like to use credit cards at the gas pumps. It took some time for us to be told of a s.... Read more...Credit Cards in the US - and the real solution is...ATMs?! Posted date : Jul 21, 2009. Credit Cards in the US - and the real solution is...ATMs?! - Dear Bird Talk, I would like to warn CSA members about using ATMs in the USA, based on my personal experience. In early March, I attempted to wi.... Read more...Changes Necessary to RRIF Payments for 2008 Posted date : Apr 30, 2009. Changes Necessary to RRIF Payments for 2008 - Dear Bird Talk,I have been asked by several senior friends as an original CSA member to write to you of our concern regarding what is happening to.... Read more...Homestead Tax Exemption Posted date : Apr 30, 2009. Homestead Tax Exemption - Dear Bird Talk,I am a Florida homeowner. Are Canadians eligible to apply for a Homestead Tax Exemption ($25,000) on their property taxes in Fl.... Read more...Driving Trips in California, Nevada, Arizona Posted date : Apr 30, 2009. Driving Trips in California, Nevada, Arizona - Dear Bird Talk,Just a word of caution to those of us who travel to Nevada, Arizona and California and use Shell, Chevron, Valero or Di.... Read more...Banking Overdraft Fees in the U.S. Posted date : Apr 30, 2009. Banking Overdraft Fees in the U.S. - Dear Bird Talk,Recently, I decided to remove the money I had remaining in my U.S. Royal Bank chequing account because I was returning to Canad.... Read more...Frequent Flyer Credit Card Posted date : Dec 23, 2008. Frequent Flyer Credit Card - Dear Bird Talk,Re: your info in CSANews, would you please tell me how to obtain a frequent flyer credit card. I do have an AIR MILES credit ca.... Read more...Air Conditioning Costs Posted date : Sep 19, 2008. Air Conditioning Costs - Dear Bird Talk,I am paying almost $200 a month hydro for my 1,400 sq. ft in Lakeland; the only thing running is the AC, set at 85. We have.... Read more...British Pensioners Posted date : May 24, 2008. British Pensioners - Hello Bird Talk!One of your members has suggested that many other "snowbirds" would be extremely interested to learn about a pension that is available.... Read more...Right of Survivorship Posted date : May 22, 2008. Right of Survivorship - Dear Bird Talk,Perhaps you think that when a couple has a joint bank account with right of survivorship that no changes will be made after the death o.... Read more...Property Taxes Posted date : Oct 17, 2007. Property Taxes - Dear Bird Talk,I have just read Peter Benedek's column and, being a property-owning snowbird who keeps up to date with such issues, I am well aware of.... Read more...Florida Homesteaders Exemption Posted date : Jun 06, 2007. Florida Homesteaders Exemption - Dear Bird Talk:I'm one of the many snowbirds that own a small one-bedroom condo (600 sq. ft.) in Pinellas County, Treasure Island Florida. In the year.... Read more...Money Transfer Issue in the US Posted date : Jun 01, 2007. Money Transfer Issue in the US - Dear Bird Talk, Please check the following information and alert our fellow Snowbirds of the following problems. I have been trying to transfer .... Read more...Keep Your Receipts Posted date : May 28, 2007. Keep Your Receipts - Dear Bird Talk,
In February, a friend drove me to Orlando and then flew down to drive me home at the end of the month. I booked our accommodations .... Read more...Foreign Bank Drafts Posted date : May 28, 2007. Foreign Bank Drafts - Dear Bird Talk,
Re: Mr. Gardner's Experience with Bank of America
I was very surprised to read Mr. Gardner's letter in the recent issue, since w.... Read more...Currency Exchange and Transfer Posted date : May 28, 2007. Currency Exchange and Transfer - Dear Bird Talk,
I am writing with respect to the Bird Talk on p. 7 of the latest CSANews Spring 2006, Issue 58, about a cash in dispute with an Ame.... Read more...Travellers' Cheques Posted date : May 27, 2007. Travellers' Cheques - Dear Bird Talk:
I wonder how many Snowbirds who have bank accounts in Florida realize that the tellers are NOT responsible for cheques??? I have a .... Read more...Warning! Unjust Bank Charges Posted date : May 27, 2007. Warning! Unjust Bank Charges - Dear Sirs:
I recently had a disturbing banking experience with Bank of America in Fort Myers, Florida. A normal deposit of $4,000.00 USD from my lo.... Read more...Part-time Employment in the US Posted date : May 25, 2007. Part-time Employment in the US - Dear Bird Talk,
Here are some facts about my current circumstance. I am the president of our co-op condo association. I have also volunteered to ho.... Read more...Sign Your Cheques Posted date : May 25, 2007. Sign Your Cheques - Dear Bird Talk,
The mail is in so I am now reading everything, cover to cover, with great interest in the CSANews Fall Issue 56. Donna Wilson's tip.... Read more...Blank Cheques Posted date : May 23, 2007. Blank Cheques - Dear Bird Talk,
I have just finished reading your CSANews summer 2005 issue. I enjoy reading all issues. In regards to "Tips to avoid identity thef.... Read more...US Social Security Number Posted date : May 15, 2007. US Social Security Number - Dear Bird Talk,
Our friends got a U.S. Social Security number. When I asked them what the advantages of having a U.S. number were, they simply said.... Read more...Foreign Investment in Real Property Posted date : May 05, 2007. Foreign Investment in Real Property - Dear Bird Talk,
In your last publication you published an article entitled "Changes in Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act" and stated that.... Read more...Tax Breaks Posted date : May 02, 2007. Tax Breaks - Dear Bird Talk,
I read your article about Ontario leading the way for TAX BREAKS FOR SENIORS. In fact BC HAS HAD THE SENIOR PROPERTY TAX BREAK ON E.... Read more...Snowbird Rule: Trading Stocks from the US Posted date : Apr 15, 2007. Snowbird Rule: Trading Stocks from the US - Dear Bird Talk,
I'm finding out much to my chagrin, that it is illegal for Value Line, an arm of the RBC and with whom I have my portfolio, to allo.... Read more...Fraud Safety Precaution Posted date : Apr 05, 2007. Fraud Safety Precaution - Dear Bird Talk,A SAFETY PRECAUTIONPlace the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each licence, credit card, etc. You will .... Read more...10% Withholding Tax on Property Sales Posted date : Mar 07, 2007. 10% Withholding Tax on Property Sales - Dear Bird Talk;RE: Bird Talk Follow-Up on the Florida 10% withholding tax on property sales.In reference to the letter from R.A. Jobber in Issue 35, w.... Read more...Selling Property in the US Posted date : Mar 05, 2007. Selling Property in the US - Dear Birdtalk, Do you have information regarding taxes (both U.S. & Canadian) when a Canadian sells a condo in Florida? Also, I heard there is a t.... Read more...8840 Form Posted date : Mar 05, 2007. 8840 Form - Dear Birdtalk, In our Park in Mesa, Arizona, there are several Canadians who do not complete form 8840, the "Closer Connection Exception Statement for.... Read more...68 Cents US Posted date : Mar 04, 2007. 68 Cents US - Dear Bird Talk, Ref: Fall 99, Issue 33, page 22.Dave Hunter says the Canadian dollar is valued between 65 and 68 cents U.S. - that surely is the value.... Read more...Money Orders Posted date : Mar 03, 2007. Money Orders - Dear Bird Talk,Re: Summer 1999 issue, page 11.I also had the same problems as Kenneth Ramsay. A teller in St. Pete's, Florida told me, a Canadian mone.... Read more...